Reflector and process of manufacture thereof



Dea 3o, 1941.

w; o. LYTLE REFLECTOR AND `PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE 'IHIEIRIEIOF` Filed July 15. `1939 2 `sheetS-sheet 2 INVENTCR c//L/ IHM 0.1LYTLE ATTORNEY form of the invention.

e Patented Dec. 30, 19411 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE REFLECTOB William 0. Lytle,

`AND PROCESS, F `TUBE THEBEOF New Kensington, Pa., assignor toj Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company,

`minorac-` i Allegheny County, Pasa corporation of Pennsylvania.

i Application ruins, 1989, serai No. 284,693

' e 11 claims. (ci. 41.42)`

The present invention `relates to reflectors and more particularly to laminated plates containing 'a centrally disposed reflecting surface.

' One object of the invention is to provide a re-` flector fromwhich light rays will be visible to `an `observer through a greater horizontal angle than is presently possiblelin similar articles. y

A `secondobject of the invention is the provision` of means for prolonging the eective life ofthe reflector plates.

rative effects may be obtained by utilizing 'colored glass in the iormationof the plate 2.

The base plate 2is `also provided with a re-` fleeting film 1 of silver or other metal applied by `any `suitable process directly over the legendl.

' This film of metal causes the legend to become Other objects and advantages of the invention 1 will becomemore apparent from the following` `,detailed description of certain embodiments fthereof. l

In the accompanying drawings: i e

Figure 1 is an elevational view of1areecto plate. as contemplated bymyinvention, at an intermediate stage of its manufacture.

Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view thereof in which the several elements are of exaggerated e size forclarity of illustration. 3 T

i `Figure 3 isa front elevational view of a completed reflector.;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of another Figure `5 is a front elevational view thereof.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a third l form ofimy invention. l

more apparent and light reflected from the film e 'l brings thelegend into even greater prominence.

Alayer 8 of plastic material, such as a synthetic resin or a cellulosic derivative, covers the reflecting nlm 1 and through its own `adhesiveness or C with the application of suitable cements serves to secure a reinforcing element 9 of glass, metal,

lwood or other material 'to the plate 2. In certain instances it has been found desirable to leave the borders of the plate 2 free of silver, and additional strips l0 of a plastic` material similar to i `that utilized in the layer 8 are positioned there-` along in order that a more perfect union between Figure' is avertical sectional view taken sub# stantially along the line VII- VII of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings,.a reflector I` comprises a plate 2 of glass, preferablyl having a prismatic or `otherwise figured surfacej 3. The

` plate `2 :is of tempered glass, that is, glass which has been heated substantially to the softening temperature and subsequently `chilledrapidly to place the surfaces thereof under compression.

`Any desired combination `of letters, numerals or other indicia may be formed` on the smooth,

\ under surface of the plate 2. For example, the

reflector illustrated in Figure 2 is intended tov serve as a highway markerandbears a legend l consisting of the letters Stop` The letters are outlined by a thin film `6 of a transparent colored material, as for example, a red vitreous glaze or enamel or a lacquer.' If it is desired the letters themselves may `be formed of the colored materialand the remainder of theplate is untreated `or` coated with a film of a contrasting color. The use of vitreous glazes or enamels for the plate 2 and reinforcing element 9 is'possible.

When` the several elements of the reflector have been assembled. 'they arefpressed or laminated into a composite plate. The conditions of temperature andpressure necessary to eifectthe` lamination will, of course, varyaccording to the nature `of the plastic material selected and the reinforcing element utilized. Obviously the lamination should be performed `in such manner that the reflecting film will not be` destroyed,` but it 0 has been found possible to form a satisfactory `plate 1under those conditions normally `experienced in the manufacture of safety glass.

The composite plate having been formed,` the plate 2 is then fractured by a penetration of the sion under which thesurfaces of the plate were placed by the tempering action and causes a disintegration ofthe plate into small fragments. Because of the Ipresence in the composite reflecticles or fragments of glass are not dislodged but are retained in their relative positions upon the `backing member. In its new form, the plate 2 possesses many additional faceswhich will divert 45,both the incident and reflected light rays, diffusing those rays, and as a result increase the brilliancy and visibility of the reflector.` A second form of my invention is illustrated i in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings wherein a reector I5 comprises an ordinary fiat glass plate the creation of the particular indiciais preferable inasmuch as `they may be `fused into` the base plate! by theapplication of heat and thismay be accomplished simultaneously with the temper- Aing of the plate 2. Obviously other highlydeco- IS, the under surface of which is coated with a film Il of silver and a protectinglrn "I8 of copper or lead. ,11A layer I9 of `plastic material bonds a backing member 20 of glass, metalywood, fab-` ric. etc.. to the plate I6.` The composite plate is surface skin. 'I'his action releases the compres-4 tor of `the layer of plastic material, the small parlaminated in the customary way and the plate I6, which may be tempered or untempered glass is brckenby impact or sudden temperature variation. An opaque sheet 2|, of metal, wood, etc., from which a suitable legend 22 is cut, is secured to the outer surface of the plate I6 by any sultable means restricting the light reflection ltherefrom to the legend. If it is desired, the several indicia forming the legend may be cut from opaque material and secured to the plate I6, permitting light to be reflected from the body of the reflector only, the legend being dark.

In a third form of my invention, illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, a reflector 25 comprises a plate 26 of glass either tempered or unteinpered having a prismatic or otherwise figured surface 21. A legend 28 is formed on the under surface of the plate 26, for example by aflixing a layer 29 of vitreous enamel thereon outlining a'series 30 of letters or other indicia. The letters or open spaces in the layer 29are then supplied with a metallic filling` 3l, by spraying or other suitable process'. If it is desired, the relative positions of the vitreous enamel and metallic filling may be reversed, thus'altering the appearance of the reflector. A layer 32 of plastic material is adhered to the coated surface of the plate 26 and serves to Lbond a Vreinforcing backing plate 33 thereto. Marginal strips 3l of plastic material are supplied to insure a more perfect bond between the plates 26 and 33.

The assembled reflector is laminated in the customary manner and the plate 26 is fractured. If the plate 26 is of tempered glass, penetration of the surface skin is suillcient, whereas, a strong impact or sudden temperature variation is necessary to fracture untempered glass. As in the other forms of the invention, the small fragments of ,glass remain in position upon the backing plate 33, and the additional faces again increase the diffusion and reflection of light rays.

It is not necessary that a legend be made a part ofthe reflector plate. The plain reflector itself may be cut into the form of letters and usedin the preparation of the so-called selfilluminating" signs, ,or small sections of the plain It4 will at once be obvious that various modisurface of a glass plate. applying a metallic iihn over said indicia and portions of the glass surface immediately adjacent thereto, adhering a backing member to the coated surface of the glass plate through the medium of an intermediate rei inforcing layer of synthetic resin, and subsequently fracturing the glass plate.

4. A process of manufacturing a reflector which comprises forming a suitable legend in a vitreous enamel upon the inner smooth surface of a tempered glass plate provided with an outer figured surface, heating the plate suiiiciently to fuse the vitreous enamel, applying a metallic reflecting Vfilm to the smooth surface of the tempered glass plate in and about the legend,

Yadhering a backingY member to the coated surface of the glass plate through the medium of an intermediate reinforcing layer of synthetic resin, and subsequently fracturing the tempered glass plate. A

.5. A reflector comprising a plate of glass in the form of discrete particles maintained in their relative positions as components of the plate, means depicting a suitable legend secured to the glass plate, a metallic reecting coating applied to one surface of the plate, anda reinforcing ybacking adhered to the coatedsurface of the glass plate.

ya metallic reflecting coating applied to one surface of the plate, and a reinforcing backing adhered to the coated surface of the glass plate.

'1. A reflectorA comprising aplate of glass', provided with at leastone figured surface, in the form of discrete particles maintained in their relative positions las components of the fplate, means depicting ia suitable 4legend secured to the glass plate, a metallic reflecting coating applied to one surface of the plate, and a'rein-V forcing backing adhered by a plastic mediumV to the coated surface of the glass plate. n

8. A reflector comprisinga plate of glass, provided with at least one figured surface. in the form of discrete particles substantially oi uniform pattern maintained in their relative posifications in the arrangement of the component fn] tions as components of the plate, yumani; depletquently fracturing the glass plate.

' face of the plateand a reinforcing Vbacking ad- 2. A process of manufacturing a reilector which comprises applying a metallic reflecting coating to onesurfaceof a tempered glass plate,

Vadhering a backing member tothe coatedsur- Yiace of they glass plate through the medium of an intermediate reinforcing' layer of. synthetic resin, securing means depicting a suitable leged to the opposite surfacev ofthe tempered fgl s plate, and subsequently fracturing the te'mpered glass plate. y y

f3. A VprocessV of manufacturing a reflector which comprises securing suitable indicia to one ing-a suitable legend'secured to the glass plate, a metallic reilecting'coating applied to one surhered by a'plastic medium to the coated surface of the glass plate. 9. A reflector comprising a plate of glass, provided with an outer figured surface andan inner smooth surface, in the form of discrete particles maintained in their relative positions as components of the plate, an indicia 'layer of vitreous vmaterial depicting a suitable legend secured to they smooth surface loi' the glass, a

metallic reflecting coating covering the indicia' layer, anda reinforcing backing adhered to the coated surface of the glass plate.

10. A reflector comprising a' plate of glass,

providedv with an outer figured surface and an inner .smooth surface, in the form of discrete particlesV substantially `of uniform pattern main tained in their relative/positions as components of the` plate, an indicia layer of vitreous material depicting a suitable legend secured tothe smooth surface of the glass, a metallic reflecting "l5 coating covering theindicia layer, and a reinprovided with anouter `ilured srfaceand an inner smooth surface, ln the form "of discrete particles substantially: of uniform pattern main-1 tained in their relative positions ascoxnponexits ot the plate, a suitable legend formedof a yltreous enamel secured to and ilredpon vthesmooth surface of the glass plate, a metallic reecting coating` applied to" the innersur'i'ace of the glass plate in` and around the legend, and a reinforcing backing adhered-by a plastic medium to the coated surface of the glass plate. i l 

